Too often, trans youth are spoken about and not heard. That’s something we became acutely aware of through our work with young people, who told us they felt powerless to make change.
From those conversations, Mermaids’ Advocacy Network Group Online (MANGO) was born: an activism and advocacy programme for trans young people, designed to empower and upskill the changemakers of tomorrow.
- Build friendships and connect with other trans young people
- Develop their confidence and advocacy skills in a supportive, welcoming environment
- Access a variety of online education sessions designed to empower and upskill
- Attend our annual in-person TRANSCEND events, filled with workshops, panels, guest speakers and more.
Why the name MANGO?
MANGO is an acronym. It stands for Mermaids’ Advocacy Network Group Online. The humble mango fruit is also a fitting metaphor for the trans community. The mango is strong and resilient, and you can find them in hundreds of varieties.
Some are sweet, some citrusy, some a bit hot, and some plain. They are a diverse and resilient fruit that doesn’t bruise easily.
How MANGO began
Back in 2022, 20 young trans activists took part in the 12-week pilot project, which consisted of weekly online education sessions looking at trans liberation through an intersectional lens.
Feedback from the first cohort of MANGO was really positive, and many of the young people who took part have used the skills they developed to take part in various opportunities including talking to MPs about trans issues, delivering a speech at the UN and being part of Mermaids’ first Youth Advisory Panel.
“I would recommend MANGO. This group has provided me with an entire network of young adults, who are like me and are each incredibly passionate and talented in what they do. It is the most supportive and welcoming environment. Everyone understands each other and wants to help each other to become better”
MANGO now
The MANGO pilot was a huge success, but we wanted to offer more opportunities to a greater number of trans young people, over a longer period, to have an even greater impact.
In 2024 we launched a new-look MANGO, thanks to a grant from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.
Evolving into a year-round advocate network, MANGO works with 40 trans young people aged between 16 and 19 from across the UK, providing them with a variety of opportunities to develop their confidence, skills and experience, from taking part in events, to speaking truth to power and having influence over the things that matter to them.
How can I get involved?
Are you a trans young person? Do you want to build your activism and advocacy skills, and build friendships and community with other trans young people? We’ll be recruiting for a new cohort of MANGO advocates in summer 2025 and we’d love to hear from you. Make sure you sign up to our mailing list to be the first to hear about it.